Sunshine Kisses

‘Are you doing okay? With the breakup?’

Erik shrugged, one broad shoulder lifting carelessly. ‘It’s been six months.’

‘You were together a long time.’

‘So were you and Sam,’ he said casually, eyes focused on the duvet while he picked at a loose thread. ‘How are you handling that?’

‘I’m…I think I’m actually good,’ she said slowly. ‘He was great. The perfect boyfriend, really. But there were a few areas where we weren’t quite on the same page. Things I wasn’t willing to compromise on.’

Their gazes locked for a single second before she looked away.

So maybe they told each other almost everything.

Both of them had always been slightly cagey about their relationships. An unspoken rule not to bring too many romantic details into the friendship. They might laugh together over a funny story from a bad date. But they rarely discussed their partners beyond the superficial.

Abby certainly wasn’t ready to share the things Sam had said when he dumped her.

They lay together in comfortable silence, and when a loud knock at the door made her eyes burst open, Abby realised she’d fallen asleep. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt relaxed enough to take a nap. Maybe this holiday would be good for her after all. Judging by Erik’s slow blinks, he had dozed off too. His eyes were soft and tender as a sleepy smile spread across his face. It evaporated with a wince when the pounding on the door continued.

‘Abby, darling, the nice boy at the front desk said you had checked in. Are you there?’ The knocking was joined by the unmistakable voice of Abby’s mother, Susan.

‘Can we hide?’ Abby mouthed at Erik.

The flash of a grin lit him up before being replaced with an exaggerated pout. He shook his head and squeezed her hand again. Fine. She lifted herself with a small groan and opened the door to her doom.

‘Hello, mother.’

‘Hello, darling— Oh.’ Her mother frowned as she looked up from the handbag she’d been rifling through. Holding her entire life as it did, it was no wonder she could never find anything in there. ‘You will be freshening up, won’t you? A grungy shirt and shorts certainly isn’t appropriate dinner wear.’

Abby frowned and touched the soft flannel hem protectively. ‘Always lovely to see you too, mother.’

‘And some mascara should open those eyes right up. That’s not polite, dear,’ her mother continued as Abby rolled her eyes.

‘I didn’t think you’d notice. My eyes are so small without mascara, after all,’ Abby said dryly. After so many years, her mother’s inane jabs washed over her, more an annoyance than anything truly hurtful. She’d done a lot of work to close herself off from the negative emotional effects of spending time with her parents. She accepted the sting, acknowledged the intent—or lack thereof—behind it, and then let it go, watching it drift away on a light breeze in her mind.

‘Don’t snap at me.’ Susan’s frown deepened and Abby raised a hand in surrender.

Part of her healing journey had been learning to give up on the fight. There was simply no point arguing with her mother’s heady combination of narcissism and haughty arrogance. It drained her, energised Susan, and would never resolve anything. So she’d learned to safeguard her peace instead.

‘Why must you always pick a fight when I see you, darling?’ Susan continued in a softer voice, pulling Abby in for a hug. It was received stiffly.

Why had she done this to herself?

Then she felt Erik manifest behind her and her body relaxed into the warmth that flowed from him. Right. There was that. A strong hand slid to the back of her neck, his thumb working at a knot just below her hairline. She had to swallow a pleased groan, and was grateful when he spoke, covering the small sound that had still managed to escape her throat. Although his thumb pressed harder, suggesting she hadn’t hidden her reaction as well as she’d thought.

‘We’ll be down in fifteen, Mrs B.’ His voice oozed charm. Bastard. ‘I’m the one who needs to freshen up. I’m afraid I don’t have Abby’s natural glow.’

She knew it would make no difference to her mother. But having Erik stand up for her lifted her own spirits nonetheless.

Susan’s face softened as she patted Erik gently on the cheek. ‘Don’t be silly, dear. This handsome face doesn’t need any help.’

Erik chuckled and dropped his hand to Abby’s waist to pull her closer to him, creating slightly more room for her to breathe outside of her mother’s orbit. ‘We’ll see you at six-thirty.’

Abby blew out a long breath as soon as the door closed and dropped her head against Erik’s shoulder. His arms closed around her immediately. ‘You okay?’ he whispered into her hair.

She nodded, face burrowing into his soft t-shirt. ‘Wasn’t expecting the very first thing out of her mouth to be an insult, but I’ll live.’

Erik’s arms tightened slightly.